About the Program

The Bachelor of Arts degree program is divided into a menu of five “tracks.” The tracks include:

Teacher Certification (Music Education)

Vocal Performance

Instrumental Performance

Music Technology

Traditional (Liberal Arts)

The program also offers a minor in music.

Mission Statement

The Music program’s Bachelor of Arts Program, accredited with the National Association of Schools of Music since 2006, presents the study of music as an integral part of a liberal arts education. Working closely with other departments in the University’s nationally acclaimed Fulton School of Liberal Arts, the music program provides a wealth of musical opportunities for students of any major.

We strive to offer a diverse and flexible undergraduate program that enables students to grow as musicians. Our uniquely designed curriculum includes opportunities to study and perform music, not only within the European Classical tradition, but also in distinctively American genres such as Jazz, rock and pop, as well as music from other cultures. Our program incorporates study tracks in performance (instrumental and vocal), music technology, liberal arts (traditional track) and music education (with K-12 teacher certification).

Therefore, the program accommodates the contemporary student who is seeking an understanding of music as part of a fundamental cultural education and the student who seeks a career as a professional musician, a music teacher or in the music industry. The division fosters a supportive “one-on-one” environment designed to enable students to gain admission to graduate programs and desirable musical appointments.

Program Goals

To provide a diverse, well-balanced, and extensive musical experience

To foster a healthy musical atmosphere that enables student to grow and develop their musicianship skills to their highest potential

To prepare students for graduate study or a career in music (or related field)

To recruit and retain high-quality students who will excel within our program

To continue to have a major presence within the education and cultural life of the university and community

National Standards of Excellence

The Music Program has recently received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music. Accreditation is a process which periodically evaluates and produces an independent judgment by peers about the extent to which an institution or program achieves its own educational objectives and meets the standards established by an association. In practical terms, it is a stamp of approval; a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers. In some cases, accreditation assists in the transfer of credits from one institution to another. In all cases, it indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity.

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“I had such an awesome experience in the SU Music Department. Students, faculty and community members are all involved in making music alive on the Eastern Shore. The faculty are committed to education. I graduated two years ago and still keep in close contact with my professors. They never stop teaching.” — Brian Kuhn, Class of 2007